The point of this blog, though, is to pass on a lesson that the Holy Spirit taught me while we were away.
I noticed it almost immediately when I walked into the master bathroom in the condo. The light in the bathroom was harsh. I looked at my reflection in the mirror and noticed every single flaw in high definition. I wanted to look away immediately.
(Let me stop right here and say that I am not a girl that fixates on every little thing I hate about my body. I am 37 years old. There are things that just come with the territory. My roots are graying some. I have stretch marks. There are lots of fine lines that have emerged from seemingly nowhere. And there is weight that I carry in certain spots that, despite my best effort, intends to stick with me. I know this and I am okay with it.)
I am pretty sure that this particular light was fluorescent in nature. Walking into that bathroom became something that I dreaded doing. However, it was a place I also couldn't avoid.
God had something to show me. For five days he used harsh light in a bathroom out of town to convict and correct a place in my heart that desperately needed some softening.
Basically what He said was this, "Andrea, I am the Light of the World. I told you this in my Word. (John 8:12) You are to be a reflection of Me. My light lives within you. When you walk into this world and take My light...be a gentle light that draws people. Do not be a harsh light that repels people further from me."
This bathroom light did what lights do. It chased darkness away. However it illuminated its brightness in harsh ways.
When we came home I walked into my bathroom and breathed a huge sigh of relief. The light was gentle. Every single flaw in my appearance was not magnified and scary to see. The flaws were still there but the light was kinder to them.
Those of us who have the Holy Spirit living within us are the Light to this fallen world.
We can shine bright in two different ways. We can be harsh or we can be gentle.
To those walking in darkness a gentle light can speak just as loudly as a harsh light. Sometimes I think that we feel in order to be heard we must be harsh. I think it only pushes people further away.
As one who has been gloriously rescued by the Light of the World, Jesus Christ, I want to remember that I used to walk in darkness. Some days I even choose to now...even with salvation in tact. Some days I am mustering every bit of courage and faith I can to let my little light shine. God help me when I get too harsh with it.
Help me Lord to not be so quick to illuminate someone's flaws.
Don't we want to sometimes?
Don't we want to expose the weakness, meanness, and sin in another to avoid our own?
But if we will simply, humbly, and gently shine then the Kindgom of God will illuminate with lives on Earth that point to our saving Light~ Jesus.
I am so thankful that He is never harsh or unkind with me. Firm~ yes. Mean~ never.
Let us be like Him.
Shine on saints of God.
Gentle and pure...let's follow Jesus and attract some others with His kind of Light.
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." Matt. 5:14-16
Matthew 5:14-16
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be
hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on
the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. "Let your
light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Being-A-Light#sthash.wVy4TKSa.dpuf
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Being-A-Light#sthash.wVy4TKSa.dpuf
Matthew 5:14-16
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be
hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on
the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. "Let your
light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Being-A-Light#sthash.wVy4TKSa.dpuf
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Being-A-Light#sthash.wVy4TKSa.dpuf
Matthew 5:14-16
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be
hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on
the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. "Let your
light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Being-A-Light#sthash.wVy4TKSa.dpuf
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Being-A-Light#sthash.wVy4TKSa.dpuf
Matthew 5:14-16
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be
hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on
the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. "Let your
light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Being-A-Light#sthash.wVy4TKSa.dpuf
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Being-A-Light#sthash.wVy4TKSa.dpuf
Matthew 5:14-16
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be
hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on
the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. "Let your
light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Being-A-Light#sthash.wVy4TKSa.dpuf
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Being-A-Light#sthash.wVy4TKSa.dpuf
Matthew 5:14-16
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be
hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on
the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. "Let your
light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Being-A-Light#sthash.wVy4TKSa.dpuf
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Being-A-Light#sthash.wVy4TKSa.dpuf
Matthew 5:14-16
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be
hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on
the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. "Let your
light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Being-A-Light#sthash.wVy4TKSa.dpuf
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Being-A-Light#sthash.wVy4TKSa.dpuf
Matthew 5:14-16
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be
hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on
the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. "Let your
light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Being-A-Light#sthash.wVy4TKSa.dpuf
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Being-A-Light#sthash.wVy4TKSa.dpuf
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